Franklin, San Diego State top Colorado State

Xavier Thames added 15 points for the Aztecs (22-6, 8-4 MVC), who have won two
in a row after a three-game slide. They find themselves in a three-way tie
with UNLV and New Mexico atop the conference standings.

"He made big time play after big time play," Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said of
Franklin. "He was very effective. Jamaal was as good as he has been in his
career tonight."

Dorian Green and Wes Eikmeier had 14 points apiece to pace the Rams (17-10,
6-6), who saw their two-game win streak come to an end.

The Rams led for the majority of the first half.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Eikmeier and Kaipo Sabas staked them to a
21-12 advantage near the midway point. Franklin responded with eight straight
to make it 21-20, but Colorado State was able to hang on for a 34-30 lead at
the break.

San Diego State tied it early in the second half, using consecutive buckets
from Franklin and Thames to make it 36-36 and trigger a close finish.

The Rams were up 52-51 with just under eight minutes to play when Thames and
Chase Tapley combined for seven straight to give the Aztecs a lead they
would not relinquish.

Green answered with a free throw before Eikmeier made a pair from the foul
line and hit a jumper to pull Colorado State within one, 58-57, but another
San Diego State surge, highlighted by seven points from Franklin and capped by
a jumper from Thames made it 67-59, sealing the San Diego State win with under
two minutes to play.

"We tried to mix in some man and zone, but at the end of the day, I thought
they made great plays," Colorado State coach Tim Miles said of his opponent.

Game Notes

Colorado State shot just 36.7 percent in the second half, compared to 44.8
percent for San Diego State...The Rams lead the all-time series, 36-32 but
have not defeated the Aztecs as the visitor since the 2002-03 campaign.